Refrigerator-door latch



Patented Sept. 21, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

TRACY J. ANST EY, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

REFRIGERATOR-DOOR LATCH.

Application filed Jiine'13, 1921, Serial K0. 477,091. Renewed April 17, 1926.

This invention relates to a refrigerator door latch and its object is to provide means whereby the refrigerator door may be maintained under a sufficient pressure to keep it substantially air tight at all times to prevent the loss of cold air and its-replacement by hot air within the refrigerator. The latch is intended not for the purpose of securing the door against access but merely to put such a pressure thereon as will prevent it from being loose in. its seat while not preventing 1t from being opened or closed from either side.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

Anembodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawingsin' which the same reference numeral is applied to the same portion throughout, but I am aware that there may be modifications thereof.

Fig. 1 shows the latch in place on a refrigerator door.

Fig. '2. is an enlarged front elevation of the latch. i

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the latch, a portion thereof being shown insection for purpose of illustration.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the latch as it appears whenfree from the door, and

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of thefixture against which the latch strikes.

The numeral 1 indicates the door jambs. 2 the door which may be hinged thereto in any well known manner. 3. indicates the handle for operating the door. .4 the latch base and .5 the latch fixture against which the latch strikes when the door is'closcd.

The latch base 4 has an elongated slot formed therein to receive'a' hollow bolt 6; said bolt being held in place by means of the plate 7 which is secured to the base 4 by means of the four cap screws 8. At the back end of the base 4 there is a-post 9 which re- -ceives a tube-10; said tube being held in a fixed position-by means of the set screw 11. Aheavy spiral spring 12 surrounds the tube 10 and holds the bolt 6 normally in the position shown in Figure 4. When the door is opened a flange13 on the bolt preventing it from being pushed through the slot inthe plate in which it slides. 'At its other end the bolt 6 has a pivot pin 14 which carries v two shortli'nks 15 each of which is provided with a-hook as indicated at 16. These links support a pivot .pin- 17 which carries a roller 18.

gage th Thebase plate 5 has a post 19 which is of substantially the same width as the space between the two links 15. This post carries a pin 20 which'projects on both sides thereof andwhich engages the two books 16 when the door is closed. I In order to insure the two links remaining in the position shown in Figure 4 when the door is opened, one of said links has a hole as indicated at 21 and the bolt 6 has a hole to receive a small. spiral spring 22 and ball 23; the both being sufiiciently flanged over to prevent the ball from being pushed out of the hole in the bolt 6 more than enough to engage the hole 21 in the link I5.

, The operation of the latch is as follows: I

Assuming the door to be opened and the door moving toward the door jamb,'note the position of Figures 4 and 5, the hooks 16 will en e pin 20 on both sides'of the post 19, and since the only way the door caneoiitinue to close is for the links to turn over to the position shown in Figure 3, the bolt 6 must be pushed back against the spring 12 at which time the roller 18 will occupy the position shown in Figure 3 and will put a heavy pressure upon the door thereby holding it tightly in its seat and preventing the loss of cold air from the refrigerator.

lVhatI claim is as follows, but various 7 modifications may be made in the construe-- tion shown in the drawings and above par.

ticularly described form, within the purview of my claims a y p 1. A refrigerator door latch comprising a base plate to be attached to a door, a bolt slidable therein, a swinging lever carried by the bolt, and an abutment on the door, jam!) against which the swinging lever strikes and which turns said lever from a position on one side of said bolt to a position onthe other side of said bolt to hold the door' shut with a heavy pressure.

2. A refrigerator door latch comprising the combination with a refrigerator door of .a base plate, a slidable bolt carried thereby, a

fixed abutment on the door jamb, a lever pivotallymounted on the bolt to move from one side of the boltto the other sidethereinvent-ion except as limited by the of, and a roller carried by the lever to contact with the abutment of the door 'jamb, whereby the slidable bolt will place a heavy pressure uponthe door when it is closed. 3.'A refrigerator door. latch comprising the combination with a refrigerator doorv jamb of a lid side of the bolt to spring bearing on said bolt, and a swinging 'a heavy pressure p 4. A refrigerator door latch comprising a v of swinging fixed abutment adapted to be secured to the door jamb, a latch late adapted to be secured to the door, a shdablebolt in the latch plate capable of moving from one lever carried. by the bolt adapted to strike the fixed abutment and hold the door under when closed.

base plate, a slidable bolt carried thereby, a spring tohold said bolt normally in a given position, a lever carried by said bolt, capable from-a position from one side of the bolt to a position on the other side of said bolt, a roller carried by said lever, and a fixed abutment member against which the swinging lever strikes to hold the a heavy pressure when closed, V 5. A refrigerator door latch comprising a base plate fixed to a door, a slidablebolt carried thereby, a spring to hold said bolt normally in a given position, a lever adapted to swing from the end i said bolt, a latch fixture on the door jainb having a recess,

the other side thereof, a

door under moaaaa pins on said fixture adapted "to engage pro- ].ecting hooks on said lever when closing said door whereby said lever is given ap proximately a half turn with its free end engaging said recess, and its pivoted end ushing back on said bolt and said spring thereby holding said door closed under pressure,

6. A refrigerator door latch comprising a base plate adapted tobe fixed to a door, a slidablebolt carried thereby, a spring to hold said bolt extended, a lever secured to the end of the bolt and capable of swinging from a position from one side thereof to a position on the other side thereof, a roller carried by said lever, a pair of hooks carried by said lever and "a latch fixture against which said hooks strike to turn the lever from a position on one side'of said bolt to a position on the other side thereof whereby a heavy pressure may be placed upon the door to hold it closed.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto set my hand this 7th day of June A. D. 1921.

- TRACY J. ANSTEY. 

